KATHMANDU: The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour kicked-off its South Asia journey from Colombo of Sri Lanka on Tuesday, run-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, which kicks-off on June 14. The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola began its journey from Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium in Russia on September 9, 2017 and will reach 54 countries including Pakistan and Maldives in the region. It was scheduled to officially hand over the trophy to the President Maithripala Sirisena at The Shangri-La Ball Room of Hotel Shangri-La, however, the President did not show up and cancelled his visit. Only head of the state gets that elusive opportunity to lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy during a trophy tour. Former national team player Christian Karembeu Christian also winning team member of FIFA World Cup 1998 along with Football Federation of Sri Lanka Anura de Silva and President, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia T. Krishnakumar attended trophy unveil ceremony. FIFA World Cup Trophy is 14.5 inches tall weighs in at 6.142 kilograms and is made of 18-carat gold. Earlier, Coca-Cola, long-term partner of FIFA took an ambitious journey by taking the original FIFA World Cup Trophy for the first time in 2006 and flying it around the globe. In previous edition in December 2013, FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour had visited Nepal, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh.